LANSING, Mich. — Just months after Elk Rapids banned smoking at numerous public venues, companion bills introduced in Lansing would snuff out smoking at public beaches across Michigan.
Bills introduced Tuesday, Sept. 10 in the House and Senate would prohibit smoking of cigarettes and cigars on all public beaches.
It comes four months after the Village of Elk Rapids in northern Michigan garnered national headlines by banning smoking at parks, beaches and trails.
Proponents say such a ban would protect air quality for beach-goers while also minimizing litter in public places from smoking.
It is not unchartered territory.
Maine banned smoking at public beaches in 2009. In Hawaii, smoking has been banned at state-owned beaches since 2015. The most recent state to ban beach smoking was New Jersey.
A statewide smoking ban on nearly every public beach in the Garden State went into effect earlier this year. Violators in New Jersey face a $250 fine for a first offense. The fine for a third offense is $1,000.
Florida is testing the waters. A recent bill would ban tobacco smoking on all of Florida’s public beaches.
Nationwide, more than 300 coastal communities have banned smoking on their beaches, according to a May, 2019 report by the Associated Press.
Publicity campaigns have been used extensively over the years to keep smokers from using beaches as ashtrays.
“Georgia’s Coast is Not an Ashtray’’ was the title of an anti-littering campaign launched earlier this year in Georgia’s beach and waterfront communities.
Senate Bill 497 has been referred to the Committee on Health Policy and Human Services. House Bill 4936 has been sent to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.
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